Western Australian slightly eases border restrictions against NSW
Western Australia and NSW have butted heads more than most during the pandemic - but the two states appear to be finally mending bridges.
Western Australia and New South Wales are on their way to mending the Covid bridges burnt over the past 18 months as border restrictions are slightly eased.
West Australian Premier Mark McGowan announced in a press conference today that NSW’s “extreme risk” classification would be downgraded a step to “high risk” thanks to the eastern state’s waning Covid cases.
Speaking to reporters after the discovery of missing four-year-old Cleo Smith, Mr McGowan said some specific NSW residents would be allowed to enter the state from Saturday.
“With case numbers declining in NSW, the chief health officer has advised NSW can transition to the 'high risk' setting,” Mr McGowan said.
“A number of safeguards are in place under the setting to give greater certainty to Western Australians that approved travellers entering from NSW are doing so safely.
“Our safe and sensible border controls have kept Western Australians safe, as states like NSW and Victoria have battled significant and sustained outbreaks.”
NSW will be classified as a “high risk” zone from Saturday meaning more exemptions for those hoping to enter Western Australia - specifically for government officials, military personnel and federal MPs.
The ACT is classified as medium risk, while Victoria is still listed as an extreme risk. The rest of the country is very low risk.
West Australians who recently travelled to NSW and were later locked out, or those who have family in the western state will also be allowed to return.
NSW residents carrying out Commonwealth or specialist duties will also receive an exemption, as well as people approved by the state emergency co-ordinator.
Despite more exemptions being granted for entry from Saturday, anyone entering Western Australia will still have to follow the state’s strict guidelines.
They must prove they’re fully vaccinated, return a negative Covid test within 72 hours of flying to Western Australia and quarantine for 14 days at home.
NSW was classified as “extreme risk” by WA in late August, when the eastern state was recording more than 800 cases of coronavirus each day.
“Extreme risk” meant no travellers in NSW were allowed to enter Western Australia - even on compassionate grounds.
WA has gone 18 days without a locally acquired case of coronavirus and did not report any new cases of coronavirus overnight.
The downgrading of NSW’s risk will be welcome news to residents in both states.
The premiers of NSW and WA have butted heads more than most during the Covid pandemic with Mr McGowan and former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian repeatedly commenting on the other during press conferences.
In August, Mr McGowan slammed NSW when it was grappling with a massive Delta outbreak, which started in late June in Sydney.
Mr McGowan said there was a significant population outside of NSW and no one should have to suffer because the eastern state had “made a mess” of its Delta outbreak.
“There is an Australia outside of NSW ... all of the people in NSW need to understand that,” he told reporters in August.
“Just because the NSW government has made a mess of it doesn’t mean the rest of us should suffer.”
Mr McGowan said there appeared to be some “self-serving justification” going on in NSW when in fact their government’s model for tackling the virus had been a “catastrophic failure”.
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